The Washington Post’s music blog, Click Track, is currently running a challenge to see who can mix the sounds that come from the “metro’s rundown escalators.” It’s not a contest, although that would have been nice. The winner (voted on by those who have to listen to the escalators on daily commutes) gets a year’s subscription to the Post. Oh well.

Does anyone know? Do they allow buskers/musicians to play (without paying incredible fees) in the stations in Washington? There is an answer, it seems to me.

On to the challenge — check it out for yourself. Posted in “Remix the Metro” there are five mp3 files, one for each of the stations at:

I couldn’t resist. With a time limited, fair attempt, I ended up using “Farragut North” for the main rhythm section with a couple of highlights from “Metro Center”. But Benning Road held no musical magic for me.

You may notice the absence of ukulele. I tried. But the sounds just really suggested another instrument to cover the cacophony.